Pirates Pitch Startup Competition
Key numbers
Funding range
$8,000
Non Dilutive Grant
Equity
None
Application
Annual
Campus Wide
Last activity
2026-04
High confidence
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Pirates Pitch Startup Competition
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Student experiences · Read or add a note
Student notes
Pirates Pitch Startup Competition
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Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Emerald Editor
$8,000
prize won
Seton Hall University
AI video editing platform. 2026 Seton Hall Pirates Pitch first-place winner ($8K) founded by Will Martin.
MacroChef
$3,000
prize won
Seton Hall University
2026 Seton Hall Pirates Pitch third place ($3,000); AI nutrition cooking app.
PURE
$4,500
prize won
Seton Hall University
2026 Seton Hall Pirates Pitch second place ($4,500).
Program details
Pirates Pitch Startup Competition
Program Type
business-plan-competition
Institutional Scope
Seton Hall University, Stillman School of Business. Open to all undergraduate and graduate students.
Description
Annual campus-wide startup pitch competition, hosted by the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 16th annual in 2026. Six finalist teams compete for $16,000 in seed funding after a multi-month process of workshops, mentoring, and pitch coaching. Finalists also receive pro bono legal services from OGC Outside General Counsel Solutions and automatic eligibility for the Pirates LaunchPad Summer Accelerator (additional $2,000 seed funding per venture). Judged by alumni entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
Key Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual since | ~2010 (16th in 2026) |
| Total prizes | $16,000 |
| 1st place | $8,000 + Audience Choice $500 |
| 2nd place | $4,500 |
| 3rd place | $3,000 |
| 2026 winner | Will Martin — Emerald Editor (AI video editing) |
| Finalists | 6 teams selected each year |
Resources Provided
- Cash prizes ($8K/$4.5K/$3K/$500)
- Pro bono legal services
- LaunchPad Summer Accelerator entry (up to $2K additional)
- Mentorship and workshops throughout spring semester
Funding Details
$16,000 total prize pool. $8,000 first place. All non-dilutive grants. Additional $2,000 per venture through LaunchPad.
Curriculum / Structure
Spring cycle: register by early March → workshops and mentoring → 6 finalists selected → final competition in early April at University Center Theatre.
Eligibility
All Seton Hall University undergraduate and graduate students. Teams of 1-6 members.
Related Programs
Additional research notesShow
Evidence
- 2026-06-23-shu-pirates-pitch-2026
- Seton Hall University — Startup Infrastructure Research Report
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Pirates Pitch Startup Competition at Seton Hall University.
1 source
Pirates Pitch 2026 Winners — Seton Hall News
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Pirates Pitch 2026 Winners — Seton Hall News
# Pirates Pitch 2026 — $16K Awarded to Student Startups Source: https://www.shu.edu/business/news/seton-hall-students-win-16k-at-pirates-pitch-2026.html — captured 2026-06-23. 16th annual Pirates Pitch results. Winners: Emerald Editor (AI video, $8K+$500), PURE (fragrances, $4.5K), MacroChef (meal app, $3K). All finalists enter LaunchPad for additional $2K. **Raw capture:** `raw/institutions/seton-hall-university/sources/2026-06-23-shu-pirates-pitch-2026.md`
Read on Seton Hall University